We carried out a review of the data available to us about A Star Support Services on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about A Star Support Services, you can give feedback on this service.
A Star Support Services provides personal care and support to adults with learning disabilities and autism living in their own houses and flats in the community. This included people who lived on their own and in shared tenancies with communal facilities in the community. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection, eight people were receiving personal care.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills, take positive risks and help out in the community.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Most people were unable to verbally communicate with us, however they used picture cards and body language to respond to some of our questions. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were proactively assessed, recognised and managed. There were enough staff with the right mix of skills to support people safely and effectively. Staff were recruited and selected safely. Medications were safely managed, administered and stored in people’s homes. Incidents, accidents and near misses were recorded and monitored to ensure there was opportunity for lessons to be learned. People were protected from avoidable harm and abuse. Staff had all completed safeguarding training and knew how to raise concerns. Infection control and prevention was managed well at the service.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Some ongoing improvements were taking place to the application of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA).
Staff were supported and supervised, trained, and suitably skilled to meet the requirements of their role. There was a clear process for referring people to external services were required and this was applied consistently to ensure care was safe. Staff worked in collaboration with other agencies such as GP’s and social workers to ensure people’s needs were met.
People’s privacy was respected, and independence was encouraged; family relationships and friendships were encouraged. Staff treated people with respect, kindness, equality and dignity. People were included as much as possible in their day to decision making and choices around their care and support needs. Care plans contained information for each person which described how they liked to be involved in their care, and what their preferred routines were. People had signed their care plans if they were able.
A personalised care plan was developed for each person with their involvement or with their family members involvement if appropriate. People’s interests and chosen activities were documented in their support plan.There was a complaints process in place which outlined response times and procedure. End of life care was discussed sensitively and with care and compassion.
The registered manager had a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities in line with regulatory requirements and had implemented a new auditing system. The service was open and inclusive and fully considered people’s equality needs. There was a positive approach to positive risk taking and encouraging people to be part of the community.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 1 March 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on our approach to inspecting newly registered services.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.